THE STORY OF LEVI HAMMOND AND POLLY CHAPMAN BYBEE

by Betsy Robena Hammon Greenwell

My grandfather, Levi Hammon, was born 14 June, 1821, at Germantown, Ohio. He was a son of Daniel
Hammon and Mary Magdelene Richter. His grandparents were Henry Hammon and Mary Russell.
Henry Hammon was born in Cumberland, Pennsylvania in 1776 and his wife Mary Russell, was born 6
Jun 1778 in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Henry died 6 Apr 1841 at the age of 65. His wife,
Mary, died 28 April, 1875, at the age of 97. Daniel, eldest son of Henry, and father of Levi, was born
17 December, 1801, and was married to Mary Magdelene Richter about 1820 and died 26 July, 1871.
She was a widow with one daughter, Christena. They had four sons and three daughters. Their names
were as follows: Levi, Jonathan, John, Betsy, Polly, George, and Matilda.

Daniel Hammon was a millwright by trade and he built and operated a gristmill in Millwood, Ohio.
Levi helped his father build the mill and worked with him in his boyhood days. Daniel was also a
wheelwright. Levi attended school walking a distance of two miles. His main book was a Pennsylvania
Dutch Bible.

The Hammons were steadily moving west. Some came as far as Nebraska. In the year 1840, Levi went
to Clay County, Indiana to work.

About 1837, when the slavery question was causing much concern and dark clouds of war were
beginning to gather, Byram Lee Bybee and Elizabeth Ann (Betsy) Lane decided to move with their
family out of the state of Kentucky, because some of the Bybees were slave holders and that caused
some friction between the brothers, as Byram was very much opposed to slavery.

Their family consisted of the parents and ten children as follows: Polly Chapman, Rhoda Byram,
Elizabeth Jane, Luann Bird, John McCann, Lucien Bird, David Boman, and Jonathan Marion, who died
in August 1836 in Barren County, Kentucky. These children were all born in Barren County, Kentucky.
Robert Lee and Byram Jr. were born in Clay County, Indiana, where the family moved from Kentucky.

About this time, Levi Hammon and Polly Chapman Bybee became acquainted and their interest in each
other soon developed into a romance. Grandfather Levi spoke the Pennsylvania Dutch language1, so we
have been told, but it would seem he either quickly learned English or grandmother learned Dutch or
else love can be understood in any language, because on 10 September 1840 they were married in Clay
County, Indiana.

He took his young bride back to his father’s home in Knox County, Ohio. We are told he built a house
on his father’s farm and worked with his father. However before he returned to his father’s farm, he
had his first contact with the Latter-day Saint Gospel Plan. Elder Isaac Morley, a Mormon missionary
presented his gospel message to the Bybee family. Many of them became interested, and joined the
Latter-day Saint Church. Most of the Bybees had been Campbellites. Grandfather Levi and
Grandmother Polly Chapman were very interested in this new religion, but did not join at the time.

Levi was 20 years old when he married. He was of large stature, standing about six feet, having a ruddy
complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes. He had a large foot and hand, and later wore a beard. When he
was older, he weighed near 200 pounds. Polly Chapman Bybee was not a large woman, about 5'3" in
height and weighed about 130 pound; her hair was black, with blue eyes and a dark complexion.
Uncle Robert Bybee told me one time, “Levi Hammon was a good man, rather quiet, and firm, a man
of his word.”

While on his father’s farm in Knox County, Ohio, their interest in the gospel increased and brought
some displeasure from his father’s family. Upon one occasion, while attending the wedding of one of
his relatives, his home was burned to the ground, leaving them only the clothes they wore to the
wedding. Levi always felt that his home was burned because of his belief in the church. He finally
made up his mind to cast his lot with the Saints and join the church. At this time, they had a little
family of three girls: Elizabeth Magdelene, Saloma Leanna, and Rhoda Ann.

Levi left Millwood and journeyed in covered wagon to Nauvoo, Illinois, arriving soon after the
martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph (Smith) and Hyrum. During this journey another daughter, Martha
Jane, was born. At this time Levi and family joined with Byram Bybee, who was his father-in-law.
These families endured many hardships along with the other Saints.

On 4 January, 1846, Levi and his wife were baptized in the Mississippi River through a hole chopped
in the ice.

Levi’s wife was present at the meeting when the Lord made it manifest that Brigham Young was to be
the leader of the Latter-day Saint Church. He being transformed into the likeness of Joseph Smith, and
speaking in his voice. She bore testimony of this until the day of her death.

The City of Nauvoo, or “The Beautiful,” is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi River in
Hancock County, Illinois, near the head of the Lower Rapids. The site of Nauvoo is one of the most
beautiful on the river. The ground rises gradually from the river and presents a smooth and regular
surface with a plain at the summit.

Nauvoo was first settled by the Latter-day Saints in 1839 following their expulsion from Missouri. At
first the situation was extremely unhealthy, and the Saints having suffered much from persecution and
other trials were easy victims to sickness; but the place after became more congenial to health. A
beautiful city was built and the Nauvoo Temple was built; still persecution and mob violence continued
until the martyrdom of their beloved Prophet Joseph Smith, June 1844. At that time Nauvoo had a
population of about 14,000 souls, mostly Latter-day Saints.

But there was no justice shown unto these persecuted “Mormon” people, and in the midst of winter
they were ordered to leave their homes and the State of Illinois. The crisis had come, and the Saints left
and crossed the Mississippi River on the ice and went to Sugar Creek about nine miles into Lee
County, Iowa. President Brigham Young told the Saints to leave their homes in order and cleanliness.
Grandmother told us they left their homes in order and cleanliness. Grandmother told us they left their
homes clean and orderly, even the clock ticking upon the shelf.

While at Sugar Creek much suffering was experienced by the Saints through exposure. Many were
poorly clad and destitute of tents and wagon covers. Sickness was prevalent in the camps and many of
the weak succumbed. The people never waivered in their purpose. “They seemed,” says Tullidge, “as
oblivious of the stupendous meaning of an exodus, as did the firs workers on railroads, of the vast
meaning to civilization of that wonder of the age. A people, trusting in their God, the Mormons were,
in their mission, superior to the greatest human trials, and in their childlike faith, equal to almost super
human undertakings.”
The camp was broken at Sugar Creek and the people started on their journey on 1 March, 1846. They
continued westward to Farmington, Iowa, which was situated on the Des Moines River. Here Levi
found work and remained several months. This aided the family to obtain food.

Captain James Allen, representing the United State government, came and met with the Church
authorities on 26 June, 1846, and presented his credentials for raising 600 men to serve as volunteers in
the war with Mexico, which had been recently declared. The brethren at Mount Pisgah did not feel
authorized to take any action and therefore advised Captain Allen to visit President Young and the
apostles at Council Bluffs the 30th of June, 1846. The next day, he met with Church authorities and
presented the President with his credentials; this caused much surprise and some dismay among the
camp. But they decided to raise 600 men; and four companies of the battalion were raised on the 13th
and 14th of July, 1846. On the 20th of July, they left for Fort Leavenworth in service of the United
States. They arrived at their destination on 1 August, 1846, numbering 549 men, and Uncle John
McCann Bybee was with them.

The calling of these able-bodied men for the battalion made it impossible for the Saints in their
weakened condition to continue their journey toward the West. So they had to seek a place to prepare
for the coming winter.

Captain James Allen secured from the chiefs, representing the Pottawattamie tribes, their voluntary
consent for the Saints to make the Indian lands an abiding place as long as they should remain in that
country. He also wrote an open letter stating what he had done in this matter and the Indian sub-agent
also endorsed the letter which Colonel Thomas L. Kane forwarded with a communication of his own to
the President of the United States.

A site was chosen on the west banks of the Missouri River. Each family labored diligently to construct
some kind of a house in which they could find shelter; many were dugouts merely built in the side of
hills. They called it Winter Quarters.

The Indians gave them some trouble and it became necessary to build a stockade around the town.
Through kind treatment President Young and the Saints obtained the good will of most of the Indians;
so they lived in comparative peace. At this time the first death occurred in Levi Hammon’s family.
Their little daughter Rhoda Ann, died the 8th of August, 1848, from the effects of swallowing a pin.

In late summer of 1848, Levi Hammon’s family moved to Missouri, and began making preparations to
move west with the Saints. Wagons had to be built, and many things had to be done before starting on
such a long, hazardous trip. Levi, being a wheelwright, assisted greatly in building the wagons.

On the 27th of August, 1849, a son was born to Levi and his wife in Buchanan County, Missouri. He
was their fifth child, but the first son. They named him Levi Byram. He was my father.

While the Saints in Council Bluffs were waiting their turn to come to Salt Lake City, they were all
engaged in making preparations to leave, and so wagons were built by the men. The women were busy
making clothing and knitting socks, stockings and gloves. They wove a cloth named “Lindsey
Woolsy,” a sturdy gray cloth. This was made into shirts and underwear for the men folks. Some was
used for women’s dresses, and for children’s dresses and coats. Levi had traded a wagon he had built
for a bolt of L.L. Factoryl which consisted of many yards of cloth folded into a large roll. From this,
many articles of clothing such as shimmies or undershirts for the children, pantelettes, petticoats,
nightgowns, and dresses for both children and adults were made. The cloth was usually dyed different
colors. The colors were obtained by mixing sage, weeds, or grasses with concoctions, made by mixing
various ingredients together.

The dresses were made full and long as it was necessary to have freedom in climbing gracefully in and
out of their wagon homes. Even though they were driven from their homes in Illinois and Missouri,
they were still gentle women who were modest and God fearing.

They boiled down maple syrup and made little lumps of maple sugar to be used as a special treat. They
brought their molasses in small barrels, and prepared as best they could for a long, tedious journey.

They could only bring those things that were really useful in starting a new home in the West. They
brought spinning wheels to spin the yarn on after the wool was washed and carded. They also brought
their looms on which they could weave the yarn into cloth. They brought all kinds of seeds, slips of
trees and shrubs.

The men folks had to learn to drive the oxen, which were strong and sturdy cattle, and were hitched to
the wagons by yoke and bow, that fit over the oxen’s neck and fastened to the wagon tongue. Then the
animals were driven by the use of a long whip and were trained to turn and go by the driver calling out
to the animal “Gee” and “Haw.” The teamster would drive with the team to the right. When he cried,
“Gee,” the team would go from him and when he cried “Haw” they would come toward him. When the
teamster cried “Haw,” it was usually with a lazy team, to let them feel the whip over their necks, and
when “Gee,” over their backs. The consequence is, that whenever a piece of rough or difficult road was
encountered, the shouts and cries of “Geeing” and “Hawing” and cracking of whips was most terrific.
In a large company voices of all kinds and modulations mixed up in the most curious manner. When
roads were good and a slight movement to the right or left was required, the command to “Gee” and
“Haw” was given in a mild tone, but when there was danger of running against a rock or getting a
wheel locked in a tree, the command was sure to be given with the full volume of the teamster’s voice.

So wisdom in driving was gained by experience, and both teamsters and teams settled down to a
routine pace.

The women and children were happy to walk when possible. It broke the monotony of constantly
jolting along in the covered wagons and made the load easier for the teams to pull. They also helped
gather the wood to cook their meals. Sometimes when wood was scarce, they would use what they
called “Buffalo Chips.” This was grass digested by the buffalo and dried in the sun. At first the women
hesitated to pick them up and carry them in, but as time went by this was a very common thing for
them to do, and they made just as hot a fire as wood.

At last the time came for the Alfred Cardon Company to leave for the West. He had charge of one
hundred wagons and these were split in two groups, fifty in each, and then each fifty contained five
units of ten wagons, each with a captain over each ten wagons and another captain over each fifty
wagons. But Captain Cardon was over all of his company.

Some of the units of ten had more than ten wagons in them. Levi Hammon was made captain over the
third ten, in the second fifty in the Cardon Company. Captain Levi Hammon had thirteen wagons in his
ten. The families of Levi Hammon, Byram Lee Bybee, John Galop, William Booth, Edward Trimer,
Nathaniel Steward, Frank Maddison, John Fisher, and James Heath made up Levi Hammon’s
Company.
On the 14th of June, 1851, all were ready to start on their journey, but the weather was unfavorable. On
the 15th of June word came to wait in camp till orders came to leave, as it was reported the Indians
would not let the Saints pass the Horn River. On the 16th of June a company of armed men from
Kanesville had gone to assist the Saints at Horn River.

At last, on Saturday, June 21, the company got started on their journey. They got as far as the river to
be ferried over. They had made only five miles that day.

Now I shall leave the trip to the Journal which you can read at your leisure. (See Journal kept by
William Booth.)

Can you realize what these people faced? Three and one-half months over a route unfamiliar to them,
not knowing what the next day would bring. Sixty-four people, plodding along, each with his own
worries. Some days were good, others were bad. No wonder at times murmuring kept creeping in.
Sickness would overtake some. Women gave birth to their babies with hardly a break in their journey.
Sometimes death overcame some of their loved ones, only stopping long enough to bury them.
Sometimes lack of food or water made them weary and yet on they went, praising their Lord and being
happy in the thought that their Prophet was leading them to a Land of Promise, where they could
worship according to the dictates of their own conscience.

It is estimated by historians of Utah that in the neighborhood of eighty-six thousand pioneers, including
men, women and children, Mormon and non-Mormon, came into Utah before the coming of the
railroad in the early spring of 1869. Approximately six thousand died and were buried either in the
ocean or by the side of the trail. Years passed, and one by one, the vast majority of these first in Utah
have gone to their reward.

We, who are their descendants and are reaping the benefit of their sacrifices, should be more thankful
for the wonderful heritage they left for us to enjoy. We certainly should learn all we can of this
precious Gospel and let it influence our lives.

At last they arrived in Salt Lake City 21 September, 1861. Now, we remember John McCann Bybee, a
son of our great grandfather, Byram Lee Bybee, who had volunteered to go with the “Famous Mormon
Battalion” and had helped to accomplish their mission, had taken over the land in the California region
in the name of the United States and had been honorably mustered out of service. He had come back to
Salt Lake and married Polly Smith on 17 October, 1850, and had established his home in Uintah,
Weber County, Utah. So naturally, Uintah was the place where the group of Levi Hammon and Byram
Bybee located. They were sent by Brigham Young to the Ogden vicinity. We can realize the joy these
people must have had at being reunited.

Uintah, as it is now called, has been known by an unusually large number of names: East Weber,
Deseret, Easton, and finally Uintah. The town has experienced great boom periods when some of its
citizens believed it would be a leading city in Weber County, and also a period when many of its
citizens moved to other communities. Uintah is situated about five miles south of Ogden and was first
settled by white people in 1850. John M. Bybee, Henry Beckstead, Daniel Smith, John L. Smith,
Joseph Kingsbury, Lewis and Joseph Hardy, and John Windward and their families and others were the
first permanent settlers.

The Indian uprising in Utah, known as the Walker War, caused the people of “East Weber,” now
known as “Uintah,” to build a fort in 1854. The fort was about one-fourth mile east to west and perhaps
500 feet north to south. The walls were constructed of mud. At that date, William Chandless described
the fort “as a village by name of ‘East Weber’ with a single street of cottages for some 300 yards in
length, with their gardens behind and the whole enclosed by an earthen wall, with a gateway at each
end of the oblong. The wall gave rather a sung look to the place, and against the Indians, effectual.”
When the Indian troubles quieted down, the fort lost its usefulness.

Shortly after the arrival of the first settlers, they took control of a small stream called Spring Creek
which unites with the Weber River at the mouth of Weber Canyon. The “Pioneer Canal” or ditch was
constructed by John Bybee, and others. Two years later, in 1852, the “River Ditch,” now known as
Uintah Central Canal, was started and then completed in 1853. One of the means used in digging the
canal was using a large tree with a prong on it, which was pulled by oxen and rooted the dirt out, and a
wooden scraper and hand shovels were also used. During the winter that Johnson’s Army threatened
the Saints, Levi Hammon spent three months on duty at Echo Canyon. During this time, his wife, Polly,
lay ill with Milk Fever, contracted following the birth of a child. Being unable to nurse the baby,
Saloma and her sister carried the baby to kind neighbors who had small babies of their own, and they
took turns nursing the baby until it was old enough to be fed with a spoon.

Johnson’s Army was kept from entering the valley while Saints moved to Southern Utah.

An amusing incident that happened in Uintah was when the Indian squaws kept stealing raspberries
from John M. Bybee. He decided to frighten them in some manner, so he concealed himself in the
bushes, clad in a very queer costume, and when the Indian squaws came to pick berries, he raised up in
full view and they rushed wildly out of the berry patch crying, “Ninny gwip, Ninny gwip,” which in
Indian meant “Crazy man.” They never came back.

A toll bridge was built over the Weber River; David Bybee was toll collector. Upon on occasion a
group crossed over the bridge and refused to pay the toll. David appealed to the sheriff, who was
Gilbert Belnap, and he rode up to talk to the leader of the group. The man wore rather long hair, and
upon his refusal to pay the bill, the sheriff quickly grabbed the man firmly by the hair of his head,
spurred his horse and after a short distance the man gladly paid the toll.

These pioneer people in Uintah made their living by farming the land and keeping some cattle and
sheep. From the wool, these thrifty women washed, carded, and spun yarn and wove it into the cloth for
clothing. They even took the hides and turned the wool inside to make shoes for them. The tallow was
melted and made into candles and lye made from wood ashes was combined with the waste fat and
made into soap. So necessity became the means of learning many arts, which we today do not know.
They made friends with the Indians, but at times had to fight them. They braved the wild animals, and
shared with the poor. They learned to do without or substitute for things they were unable to procure.

At this time, the land was covered with sage brush, scrub oak, and grass which grew more luxuriously
along the river bottoms; they pastured their livestock on the open range. Here, our ancestors planted
grain, kept their cows and produced the commodities they needed. As matches were scarce, the women
banked their live coals with ashes to keep their fires overnight. If their fire went out, they would borrow
a shovel of live coals from their neighbor.

Levi Hammon and Polly Chapman Bybee brought with them a family of five children, having left little
Rhoda Ann buried at Winter Quarters. While living in Uintah seven more children were born to them:
Lucien Vilate, Heber Chase, Betsy Ann, Luann Bird, Daniel Jeddiah, Matilda Christena (buried in
Uintah), and Jonathan Marion. They had now lived in Uintah for thirteen years.
Can you imagine what a feeling Grandmother Polly Chapman must have experienced when her faithful
husband, Levi Hammon, brought word he had been called to go with Apostle C.C. Rich into the bleak
cold country of Bear Lake Valley and help settle this part of the country. They were a few years older
and I think it would be with a heavy heart that they prepared for another exodus into this Indian
country.

“Owing to the high elevation and rather rigid climate, no attempt was made to settle Bear Lake Valley
until the fall of 1863 when Apostle Charles C. Rich and others were called by President Brigham
Young to settle the Bear Lake country. This company entered the valley from the north, crossing the
mountains which separate Bear lake Valley from Cache Valley. Leaving the head waters of Mink
Creek they followed over to the head waters of Emigration Creek, which they followed down to the
open valley. Looking around for a place to locate their first settlement, they decided on the Creek on
which Paris now stands.

“The first, or advance company, of the Bear Lake Valley pioneers arrived on the sight where Paris now
stands on Saturday, 26 September, 1863. This company consisted of nine wagons and among the
settlers were Thomas Sleight, James Poulson, Robert H. Williams and Landon Wriston.

“The first encampment was made on the north side of the creek on which Paris was subsequently built.
Apostle Charles C. Rich, with a company on horseback, had been in the valley before and had selected
the site for a town.

“The day after the arrival of the first nine wagons, other settlers entered the valley and other arrivals
continued the remainder of that month and October. Those who arrived in the valley spent eight days
traveling 46 miles from Franklin, in Cache Valley, to Paris.

“Soon after the arrival of the first settlers a town site was surveyed by Fred Perris. This first survey,
however, consisted of only two blocks.

“The first huts or dwellings built in Paris were erected of quaking aspen logs obtained at the mouth of
Paris Canyon, roads being made to the timber that fall and several bridges built. The first dwellings that
could be called houses were built on the present site of Paris, in October 1863. About twenty log cabins
were built that fall, all having dirt roofs and dirt floors.

“Considerable hay was cut and stored up to feed the animals during the winter which happened to be
very mild.”--Encyclopedic History by Andrew Jensen.

“Liberty Ward, Bear Lake Stake, Bear Lake, Idaho, consists of Latter-day Saints residing in or near the
village of Liberty, which is situated at the forks of Liberty Creek and North Creek, about eight miles
northwest of Paris and three and one-half miles west of Ovid.

“Liberty was first settled in spring of 1864 by a group led by Levi Hammon who had been called and
set apart as Presiding Elder of the new colony. He was succeeded in 1866 by Edwin N. Austin, who
took charge until 26 August, 1877, when the Liberty Branch was organized as a ward with Edwin N.
Austin as Bishop. Brother Austin was succeeded in 1911 by William R. Morgan, who in 1929 was
succeeded by Torry A. Austin who acted as Bishop in 1930.”--Encyclopedic History by Andrew
Jensen.
This is the writing on the D.U.P. Monument No. 238 erected in 1957, at Liberty, Bear Lake Valley: “In
1863, Charles C. Rich with others explored this valley. A group of settlers in eleven wagons traveled
through the canyon in September and founded Paris. Log huts with dirt floors and roofs, sheltered 48
men and 40 women and 30 children during the winter. Church services were held in homes until a log
building was erected. Next year 700 pioneers entered the valley and established other settlements. Fish
and wild game was their main food. Communications between settlements was made by men on
snowshoes.

“A treaty of peace and friendship with the Indians was made by C.C. Rich and was faithfully kept. Bear
Lake County.”

The Levi Hammon Company left 1st March, 1864, in covered wagons. There was Levi and his wife,
Polly Chapman Bybee, Aunt Elizabeth Hammon who had married George Davis, Aunt Saloma, who
had married John Prescott, and others. I do not know who or how many wagons there were. They built
log houses. Levi’s house was erected first and in this house Saloma gave birth to her first child, James
Prescott, who was the first child born in Liberty.

They planted grain and other crops but the grain was frozen before time to harvest. The Indians gave
them much concern, drove their cattle away and harassed them in many ways. It was necessary for the
group to move into Paris for the winter of 1864. In the spring of 1864 they went back and again planted
crops. Grandmother Polly Chapman gave birth to her last child, Alice Francis, 5 April, 1865, in
Liberty.

Again the frost took their crops and most of their food was boiled wheat and any wild game they could
procure. Grandfather moved his family to Franklin for the winter of 1865 where he could obtain some
work to provide his family with food. He remained in Franklin the summer of 1866 and worked at
various jobs to provide food for his family. He had a large family of nine children, the eldest being
sixteen years of age.

When Levi moved to Franklin he left some of his belongings at his house in Liberty. Some of these
things were needed as winter was approaching. So, grandfather sent Levi Byram, who was my father,
now a lad of sixteen, on horseback to bring some of these things.

His horse was a colt, not too well broken, and as he rode along, having gone by Mink Creek, this trail
was through the mountains, there was about twelve inches of snow on the ground.

Suddenly the horse began jumping and bucking, and father went off. He managed to hold on the reins,
but his leg was broken in two places. So there he was with a broken leg, helpless and alone, by the side
of the road. Soon hours passed and not a soul came along. Finally father decided this might be the last
as he was getting almost numb with cold and pain. So he took his knife and scratched on the top of his
leather boot what had happened and tied himself with the reins to the horse, thinking if the worst came
the horse might drag him home.

As night approached Charley Warner came along on a load of logs on the running gears of his wagon.
As he came nearer, father’s horse whinnied and Warner’s horse answered the whinny and Warner
stopped to investigate. He found father in a very bad way.
Somehow he got father on the load of logs and after quite some time reached help and they got father
revived and warm, got him home and somehow got his leg set. It gave him much trouble and pain. He
even favored that leg all his life.

So thus another worry was added to Grandfather Levi’s long list of worries. His health was not too
good, he had a very bad cough and the rigorous climate was very hard to take, and his responsibilities
were beginning to tell on him.

Having been honorably released earlier in 1866, he decided to return to Utah where the weather and the
Indians were not quite so bad, and they moved back in the fall of 1866. Uncle George Davis’ family
also returned with grandfather’s family but Aunt Saloma and Uncle John chose to remain in Liberty.

Hooper is situated on the delta of the Weber River about three miles east of the shores of the Great Salt
Lake and about twelve miles west of Ogden and Weber Canyons. It lies in the extreme southwestern
part of Weber County and the northwestern part of Davis County. In 1877 the town was divided by the
county line, leaving Hooper in both counties. The place was first known as “Muskrat Springs,” later as
Hooper. This accounts for it being called North and South Hooper.

In later years, it seems to be Hooper, Weber County, and West Point, Davis County.

Now the Hooper herd house was built of adobe and had four rooms on the ground floor, two upstairs
and a two room lean on the north side with a porch on the south. It had a dirt roof and was used to
shelter Captain Hooper’s herders. The Honorable William H. Hooper was Utah’s Territorial Delegate
to Congress. He ran his cattle from Clearfield on south to Weber River on the north, but as settlers built
homes Hooper moved his cattle to Skull Valley, west of Grantsville.

It was in this house Levi and his family, and Uncle George Davis and his family, found shelter. Aunt
Alice Hanny says the families of Ed Cherry and Tom Smith lived there also. At that time everyone
shared with each other, so maybe they did.

The next spring of 1867 Uncle George and Levi Hammon plowed and planted gardens and grain. This
was the first land plowed in South Hooper. They continued to live in the herd house, I don’t know just
how long.

On 17 June, 1868, Gilbert Belnap was set apart as Presiding Elder, Levi Hammon, first, and Arvil
Atwood, second counselors of Hooper Branch.

On 17 June, 1869, Hooper school district was organized; trustees elected were Gilbert Belnap, Levi
Hammon, and James Hale.

James Hale came to Hooper in 1863. He constructed two dugouts on the shore of Great Salt Lake about
one and one-half miles west of the Hooper Herd House.

On 18 May, 1864, Howard Hale was born, the first child born in Hooper.

James Hale made a living by gathering salt for commercial purposes. West winds blew the salt water
into the sloughs, and the sun evaporated it, leaving the salt on the ground. Later water was pumped into
the sloughs from the lake and salt was obtained on a larger scale.
Other settlers soon followed Levi Hammon and George Davis and this little town became a thriving
community.

According to Uncle “Reuben Belnap’s History,” in the Gilbert Belnap Family Book, he states he met
his wife Lucien Vilate Hammon, in the spring of 1869 when he and two of his brothers were working
with a surveying party, surveying the land into sections for the government. He states, “About the third
day they had moved down the canyon and out on the flat near the old adobe Hooper Herd House. They
decided to stop there for dinner. They were welcomed and it was while they were waiting for dinner
that Reuben met Lucien, his future wife, who was helping her mother prepare the dinner. He was
impressed with her shining red hair and made a point to see her the following Sunday.”

This would indicate that Grandfather Levi and family lived in the Herd House for three or four years.
For on the 11 of January, Reuben Belnap and Lucien Vilate Hammon and Levi Byram Hammon and
Martha Jane Belnap were married in a double wedding at the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, and
Martha Jane Belnap had become acquainted with Levi Byram at the Herd House.

“In 1875, five thousand acres of land was put under irrigation with the Hooper Canal. It was seventeen
and one-half miles long and cost seventy-five thousand, four hundred fifty-two dollars to build. The
water was also for culinary purposes.”

They used those small plows of that day, wooden scrapers, picks and shovels, quite an accomplishment
for that time with the implements they used.

“In 1878 a branch of the Z.C.M.I. was formed and called the Hooper Co-op with Henry B. Guilliams as
Superintendent.” (Beneath Ben Lomonds Peaks, page 230.)

In 1880 the Ogden-Syracuse Railroad Company was incorporated with a capital stock of two hundred
thousand dollars. Its purpose was to construct a railway to the famous bathing resort on the shores of
the Great Salt Lake. The railroad also hauled salt from the salt works on the shores of the lake.

Because of the good bathing beach on the lake shore at Hooper, D.C. Adams of Salt Lake City and
Fred J. Kiesel of Ogden built the largest dance pavilion, bathing resort and recreational center in the
state of Utah. The pavilion was built about one hundred twenty-five feet long by seventy-five feet wide,
with a large bar in the west end. It had a good floor and a willow roof in 1887, and a better roof was
added in 1888. It was an open air pavilion and coal lamps lit the ballroom at night. The music was
furnished by Salt Lake, Ogden, and local talent.

Outside on the east end was a stand for refreshments. Celebrations on the fourth and twenty-fourth of
July were held here. A horse-propelled merry-go-round and two springs helped amuse the children.

The bathers were taken back and forth to the bath houses by a streetcar drawn by two mules. But the
lake receded so the water was too low for good bathing and later on the pavilion was used for other
purposes. Grandfather Levi Hammon built a hewn log house on his land, and moved his family into a
more home-like place; the house was a story and ½ high--the loft was floored to use as bedrooms for
the children. On the ground floor was a large front room with a porch on the east and a small room on
the west, with the customary lean-to on the south side which was a long room with a small room on the
west end to be used as a store room or pantry.
They planted shade trees, fruit trees, berries, grape vines, native currant and gooseberry bushes, and
had good gardens. Corrals and fences were built out of logs for their stock. They drove pipes in the
ground and got good flows of water to use for their culinary uses and to water their flowers and
gardens. They lived quite comfortably.

The children took advantage of the meager schools of that day and worked in the different
organizations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Levi Hammon served as Constable
and Justice of the Peace and performed a number of marriages; some of these were his own children’s.
In that day the children couldn’t read or write. Many of them went to school after they were married, so
they could learn the art of reading and writing. My father, Levi Byram, did this.

Grandfather Levi Hammon worked on the adobe school house in Hooper and on the canal along with
his boys as this canal was quite a long, hard job to undertake with the implements used in those days.
The salt sloughs had been developed and much salt was hauled form the vicinity.

Life drifted on in the usual way in Hooper; the town was growing larger and Grandfather Levi’s family
was marrying off--Uncle “Daunt” and Aunt Alice were the only children who were not married.
Grandfather’s health never improved much. Polly Chapman Bybee and Levi Hammon were growing
older, but they still had a strong testimony of the Gospel and were still satisfied for having come to
Utah.

At this time there was some Indian land in the Snake River country being opened up for homesteading.
Uncle George Davis, who had always wanted another try at settling in Idaho, and his son-in-law, Riley
Howard, went on a scouting trip. They went on horseback up the Snake River Valley and liked what
they saw. There were a few homesteaders there, and they were building a church and also building a
canal to bring water onto Wilford Flat, as they called it. They were trying to bring water from Teton
River. George Davis and Riley Howard filed on homesteads on the Wilford Flat and helped work on
the canal and church; this was in 1884.

They returned to Hooper to spend the winter. The next spring they returned again to Wilford and James
Messervy and family went with them and filed on a homestead for themselves in the spring of 1885.
The water from Teton River turned out to be too low for Wilford Flat, so a company was formed and a
survey was made from Fall River, which proved to be successful. A company was formed and George
Davis was made president and the canal was under construction. As winter approached, George Davis
and Riley Howard returned and stayed in Hooper with their families for the winter.

In the spring of 1886, they returned and worked on the canal and on their homesteads. They erected
three log houses, and in October 1886 moved their families to their new home in Wilford, Idaho. The
weather was cold and the roads were real muddy.

A large group of Grandfather Levi Hammon’s children were going to Wilford, so they decided to go
with them after having lived in Hooper for nineteen years. This group included the families of George
and Elizabeth Davis, William and Polly Davis, Hobe Thompson and family, James Thompson and
wife, Uncle Daunt and Aunt Alice, Heber Hammon family, and perhaps others.

They decided to stop in Logan and finish some of their temple work. Grandfather Levi and
Grandmother Polly Chapman Bybee Hammon, Martha Prescott, and Levi Byram Hammon took the
train to Logan and completed these families’ temple work. The six older children were sealed to their
parents 14 Oct., 1886. The parents were endowed and sealed 13 March, 1861, in the room above
Brigham Young’s office which had been dedicated and set apart for this sacred ordinance.

The next morning Grandfather Levi and Grandmother Polly took the train to Market Lake where they
were met by James Messervy, their son-in-law, and were taken to his home. Levi Byram Hammon and
Martha Prescott took the train and returned to their homes in Utah; Levi Byram went to Hooper where
he had bought his father’s home; and Martha Prescott went to her home in Bountiful. Completing the
temple work for their family made the journey to Idaho easier for Grandfather and Grandmother
Hammon.

The journey to Idaho by members of the group was not easy, as the fall weather was cold and rainy,
and the roads were poor and muddy. Uncle Daunt tried to drive six horses and trail one wagon, but had
much trouble, and finally they talked him into letting Aunt Alice drive one wagon, and this proved
more successful.

They seldom passed a home. At the Anderson store in Eagle Rock they stopped for groceries. It was a
one-room log house, and a few log houses were scattered close by.

At Rexburg there were a few houses, Henry Flam’s store, a one-room log house, and a small church. A
log bridge with willows laid across served as a bridge over the Teton River. They stayed here all night,
arrived at Wilford in the late afternoon, making two weeks of travel, and were very happy to be at the
end of their journey.

Charlie Mason, on orphan nephew whom Grandmother Hammon raised, was with the group and helped
to drive the loose cattle. The first winter, Heber’s family, grandfather and grandmother, Uncle Daunt
and Aunt Alice and Charlie Mason lived in a three-room house. Grandmother had two rooms and
Uncle Heber’s family, one room. Charlie and Uncle Daunt slept in the sheep wagon all winter. The
next spring, 1887, Grandfather Levi filed on land and built a sawed log house with three large rooms in
it.

Betsy Ann Hammon, the wife of James Messervy, had four children, and just a couple of years after
they had homesteaded 160 acres of land and had built a home on it, Betsy Ann contracted Erysipelas
and there were no doctors around or serum to treat this dreadful infection, and she passed away, leaving
these little children motherless.

Grandmother Polly C. Hammon took the three younger children and with Aunt Alice to help, tried very
hard to care for them. Lee, the eldest boy about 9, stayed with his father, but again the grim reaper
returned in 1890 and took the father, and one year later “little Jimmie” died, so Lee came and lived
with grandmother too. Alice married in 1889, but she was close enough to help some and Annie was
getting old enough to do some of the chores.

The death of Betsy Ann was indeed a severe sorrow to Levi Hammon and his wife, who were getting
old and it seemed they had endured much. And it was with much sorrow they laid her away, and in
their old age they tried to look after these orphaned little ones. But these three children grew up and
have been shining stars in the long line of their descendants.

In 1894 Aunt Alice says, “The folks home burned down and Father, Mother, Charlie Mason, a nephew
Grandmother raised, came and stayed with us, and Polly Davis.” Uncle Heber moved to Fall River
country and then grandfather and wife and those of his household moved into his home. Levi Hammon
had gone to the home of Aunt Polly Davis’ to stay for the night, and took ill and died at her home 8
Nov., 1894.

He had spent a life of service to his god, his church, and his fellow men, and had been Captain
Hammon in crossing the plains. He acted as a scout for his brethren during the invasion of Johnston’s
Army. He was a leader in the colonization of different parts of Utah and Idaho, and cared for the
homeless and orphans. He stands with his good wife at the head of a marvelous number of people
scattered all over the entire western states; and may we, his descendants, live worthy of our heritage,
which was made possible by his sacrifices, hardships, and the fact he remained through it all, true to the
faith he had embraced.

His faithful wife moved to Preston, Idaho and lived with Uncle Jed and Uncle Daunt for awhile, but
finally sold out and moved back to Wilford.

In 1895, grandmother was called upon to go through another very hard trial; her son, Heber Hammon,
was accidently drowned in the Snake River. His last child, a son, Marion Byram Hammon, was born 2
October, 1895, two months after his death.

In Grandmother Polly Chapman Bybee’s earlier life, she was called by President Brigham Young to be
a midwife and set apart in 1856 by Apostle Hebe C. Kimball, while living in Uintah, according to Aunt
Saloma’s story; and it has always been a family tradition. Although I could find no record in the
Church archives and was told that no records of calling midwives were recorded at that early date, yet
we do know she was a very good midwife and was called far and near to render service.

She went whenever she was needed. On one occasion during a bad blizzard, they went in a wagon for
several miles. Though wrapped in a quilt, she nearly froze. During deep snows, she traveled on
horseback as there was no other way to get through the drifts.

She brought many babies in Uintah and after when she went to live in Hooper she was busy much of
her time in midwifery. A count of her deliveries was never kept but it would run into the hundreds. She
practiced in Hooper for nineteen years and even when she was older and moved to Idaho. She was also
learned in concocting herbs and other things to relieve pain and suffering.

She had seven children born in East Weber, later called Uintah. She was always a good companion to
her husband and went with him when called to go to help settle Bear Lake country although she had
eight children under sixteen and her last child was born 5 April, 1864 while they were still in Liberty,
Bear Lake, where they were trying to settle the country and tame the Indians. They had many
experiences with the Indians who insisted on driving off their cattle and making things as hard as
possible for the settlers, and at times rode through the village whooping and yelling.

Our love and respect and admiration go to her, a typical pioneer with a devout respect and testimony of
the Gospel, and a determination to fill her calling as a midwife to the best of human ability.

At one time in Preston, grandmother was just recovering from a very serious sick spell. A neighbor
came to see if she was well enough to come to his wife who was in labor and things were not natural.
Aunt Anne Hammon and Aunt Lodema Hammer, who were taking care of her, thought she shouldn’t
go, but she said Eliza R. Snow, who had talked to them as midwives, told them to always say “yea”
when called and never “nay.” She dressed and went and assisted the other midwife and because of her
know-how the baby was born and both mother and child were fine.
Grandmother had many trials to bear during her life. She was the mother of 14 children, and stillborn
twin premature boys. She left one little girl five years old buried on the plains and another girl buried in
Uintah, Utah.

She was never idle and knitted while others visited her or whenever she was not employed otherwise.
She was a faithful Relief Society member, always bearing her testimony of the Gospel, and bore her
trials as a true pilgrim and pioneer of the church. An exemplary wife and a fond mother, she died 7
August, 1902 at Wilford, Idaho, and was buried 9 August in the Wilford Cemetery.

JOURNAL OF THE

3RD COMPANY OF TEN

UNDER THE PRESIDENCY OF

CAPTAIN LEVI HAMMON

Organized in the Secon Fifty

of Alfred Cardon Company

on Friday, the 13th day of June, 1851,

containing

Names Souls Wagons Oxen Cows Horses Sheep Swine

Levi Hammon 7 1 4 4

Byram Bybee 5 1 4 6

John Gallop 9 2 4 6

William Booth 4 1 4 2

Edward Trimmer 9 2 8 6 2

Nathaniel Steward 12 2 10 3 1

Frank Maddison 4 1 6 1 1

John Fisher 7 2 6 1 1

James H. Heath 7 1 4 4

Total 64 13 50 33 2 3

1851
Saturday, June 14. Today we are making ready to star on Monday morning if all is well. The weather is
very unfavorable. We have had much rain, but we hope to get out.

Sunday, June 15. Today news came that we was to stop in camp till order to go, as it is reported the
Indians will not let the Saints pass the Horn River. The day is fine and our health good.

Monday, June 16. The day is very fine. A company of men armed from Kanseville to go to the
assistance of the Saints at the Horn River and bring them back to Winter Quarters.

Tuesday, June 17. The day is fine and we are still waiting for order to move on, which we hope will
soon come. The health of the company is good.

Wednesday, June 18. The weather is very unsettled. We had much rain last night. We are still in camp
and no orders at the present to move.

Thursday, June 19. This is a fine morning but we had very much rain, thunder, and lightning--very bad.
A good bridge was washed away and we all turned out to make good the repairs of said bridge and we
had orders to get ready to move out which we was glad to hear.

Friday, June 20. We had all got ready to move out tomorrow morning. The Saints are in good health
and spirits. The days is fine and I hope we shall have a good time off.

Saturday, June 21. This is a very fine morning and the company was full of life in getting the cattle and
wagons in the line. We got as far as the river to be ferried over. The road to the river was very bad and
the cattle had work to get through. The distance was about five miles.

Sunday, June 22. This was a fine day and we all got across river in safety and much fatigue as all hands
had to work hard in getting the wagons and the cattle over. To our surprise we could not find Sister
Maddison’s cattle and it made the company very uneasy.

Monday, June 23. We moved from the river at 4 o’clock his morning to go to a camping place. The
road was bad. We were only able to go about one mile. The rest of the day was taken up looking for
sister Maddison’s cattle which was found all safe on the other side of the river.

Tuesday, June 24. It was found today that Sister Maddison’s wagon was not safe to travel to the valley
and all stayed in camp today to see what could be done. It was agreed that wagon should be put in order
for the journey.

Wednesday, June 25. We left camp today about 10 o’clock. The day was fine and we traveled about 8
miles when we came to the company of 50 to wait for orders to move out, the health of the company is
good.

Thursday, June 26. We are still in camp. The weather is still unfavorable owing to heavy rains that
have fallen in the night, but we feel happy. The company is in good health.

Friday, June 27. Elder Cumming, captain of the hundred, came into camp today and called a meeting of
the men to tell them how they was to act by the way. Sister Maddison lost her red cow last night and
they said it was not found. A little rain today.
Saturday, June 28. This is a fine day. Our captain went to Kanesville today to get some tings for the
company. The cow had not been found. We are looking forward with joy to getting away to the valley
of the mountains.

Sunday, June 29. This is a cloudy wet unsettled day. Elder Orson Hyde came up to camp today but only
stopped a few minutes, and the third company of 50 went out his morning about 11 o’clock. May the
Lord bless them with a save and good journey over the plains.

Monday, June 30. This is a windy day but fine overhead. Judge snow and four others came up to camp
today with a brass cannon for the valley. Captain Cummings called the company together and told them
to get ready to go out tomorrow. Sister Madison’s cow has not been found.

Tuesday, July 1. This is a wet unsettled morning. We got all ready to start by 8 o’clock but did not
move till after 9 o’clock. They day cleared up and we traveled about 12 miles. We did not find the cow.
All was glad to get out of camp and may the Lord God of Joseph bless us on the way, even so, amen.

Wednesday, July 2. This is a fine morning for the cattle to travel, it is not raining at all; hot but
pleasant. The captains of the tens have to call their company together for prayers night and morning,
which is good. We traveled all safe about 15 miles today. We found a good camping place for water
and feed but little wood.

Thursday, July 3. This was a dull morning but turned out a fine day for traveling. We did not leave
camp till 10 o’clock owing to us waiting for some wagons that was left behind yesterday. We traveled
about 12 miles today. We found a good place for camping, with good feed and plenty of water about a
half mile from the roads, but here was little or no wood. The roads today was good all the way. Bro.
John Gallop killed a rattlesnake this morning, the first that had been seen by the way. We have not seen
any Indians at present.

Friday, July 4. This was a rainy morning but it cleared up about 8 o’clock and we left camp at half past
8. The roads was good but it was heavy for the cattle. We passed a camping ground where two had
been buried, the first grave we have seen on the way. Oh! When will the monster death be destroyed.
We traveled about 13 miles today; found a good place to camp for wood, water, and feed. All the camp
moves on well. No Indians at present.

Saturday, July 5. We had a heavy thunder storm last night, but his is a very fine morning. We left camp
at 9 o’clock. The roads was much better for the cattle and we got on well, and we feel thankful. The
Saints are slack in coming to meet for prayer nights and morning. We traveled about 14 miles today.
We found a good camping place for water and feed but no wood. We all got in safe and well. We came
to a guide post today left by Orson Hyde to tell how we was to act in taking the road and watching our
wagon and cattle, for which we feel thankful for the caution.

Sunday, July 6. This was a foggy morning, but it turned out a very hot day. We left camp this morning
at 9 o’clock and we found it hard work for the cattle as they could not get on well for the heat was so
great. Deer was seen today. We got into camp about 6 o’clock and only made about 10 miles. The
camping place was good for feed and water but no wood. Captain Cordon called a meeting in the
evening and gave some good instruction to the camp which will turn out for good. He said it would be
good for the time ot come not to travel on Sundays which was well received.
Monday, July 7. This is a fine morning and we left camp at 8 o’clock, and the weather has not been
quite so hot today, and we got the cattle along with much more ese than yesterday. We passed a guide
post left by Captain Phelps and the distances stated from our startin point was 100 miles. The roads
today have been good and all prairie land. We passed a little wood about 1 ½ miles from our last
camping place. All the company are in good health and spirits. We traveled about 15 miles today. We
came to a camping place but we could not get any wood and but little water and that not good.

Tuesday, July 8. We had heavy storm last night and very strong wind but we found all safe this
morning and the weather was fine. We left camp his morning at 9 o’clock. We found the roads heavy
from rain that fell last night. The roads was very hilly all day today but the cattle traveled well as it was
not so hot. We came about 14 miles. No Indians seen at present and all is well with us as a camp. We
came in to a camping place at 1/4 past 4 o’clock, good feed and water but no wood within one and a
half mile.

Wednesday, July 9. This was a fine morning and we left camp at 8 o’clock. We found the roads good
and all the camp moved on well. We traveled about 8 miles and we came to a good camping place for
wood and water, also good feed for cattle. We came into camp about 12 o’clock and we stopped for the
day that the sisters might wash, and etc. The day was very fine and the cattle had a good rest.

Thursday, July 10. This is a very cold morning and we left camp at 8 o’clock. We came to a place
where a guide post was left by Elder Hyde on the 5th inst. Stating it was 129 miles form Kanesville.
We came to another guide post left by Captain Phelps stating the camp was all well and they left that
place on the 9th inst. At 9 o’clock in the morning. We found the roads hiilly but good. Sister Maddison
met with an accident by two horses running away and knocking her down. We traveled about 18 miles
today and came into camp at 5 o’clock and found a good place for feed but little water, no wood.

Friday, July 11. We had a child die in camp last night and was buried this morning. This is a find
morning and we left camp at 8 o’clock. We came to two bas sloughs this morning and it tookus some
two hours to get out, but we got out all safe. We came to a grave this morning of a child of Captain
Phelps. We found the roads very hilly today but good. We have not seen any wood today. We came
into camp about 5 o’clock. We traveled about 12 miles today. We did not find any wood and water was
not good. The health of the camp is good.

Saturday, July 12. Lat night a meeting was called of all the camp respecting Captain Easton wishing to
leave the company of this camp and go on alone. There was much said from Captain Cordon and
Captain Easton. Captain Cordon said if he went he must go in his or their own strength. The meeting
was kept late. This is a fine morning and we left soon after 7 o’clock. The sun was hot but we had a
good breeze of wind which was good for us and the cattle. We found the roads very hilly all day today,
but they was good and we marched about 18 miles and came into camp about 5 o’clock. We found
good water and feed but no wood. The land looks rich and good Captain Easton left us this morning
with his company. I fear he will repent of so doing.

Sunday, July 13. We stopped camp today to rest ourselves and cattle. The day is fine and a good fresh
wind is blowing, which makes it pleasant. Captain Cordon and others have been to examine a creek we
have to cross tomorrow. They think we shall do well. We had a meeting this afternoon. Captain Cordon
preached to us upon our duty as a camp. It was good to hear him.

Monday, July 14. This was a very fine morning and we left camp at 7 o’clock. We came across 2
creeks and 2 sloughs, which took much of our time today to get through. We got all safe through. We
found the roads very hilly but good to travel and we made about 8 miles. We camped about a quarter
past 4 o’clock. Plenty of water, no wood, and feed was thin for cattle.

We have not seen any Indians at present.

Tuesday, July 15. This is a fine fresh morning and we left camp at 7 o’clock. We found the roads all
day very good. We crossed some three sloughs but we got all safe through. We came to a guide post
left by Orson Hyde on the 7th inst. The distance from Kanesville was 191 miles. We came full 20 miles
today. Came into camp at 6 o’clock. No wood, little water and not good, good feed. We have not seen
any Indians at present. All is well in camp.

Wednesday, July 16. This is a very hot day and our cattle will be somewhat fatigued with traveling. We
left camp at half-past 7 o’clock. We found the road good but very sandy. We crossed one creek today,
all safe. We came to a good camping place about one o’clock and we stopped. We found very good
water, plenty of wood, feed for cattle thin. We came about 9 miles. Saw the prairie on fire but near the
road. One cattle was fatigued but will have a good rest today.

Thursday, July 17. We had a thunder storm last night but this is a very fine morning and we left camp
at half-past 7 o’clock. We found the day very hot, the road sandy, but not hilly. We saw wood several
times. We past a mark left by Captain Phelps on the 14th. All well, we came to the Horn River about 5
o’clock. A bridge had been thrown across the water about 2 feet deep but a sandy bottom. We camp
when we cross the bridge. Plenty of wood and water with feed for the cattle. We traveled 16 miles
today.

Friday, July 18. This was a very warm morning. We left camp at half-past 8 o’clock. The day was very
hot and the roads very sandy, which made it hard work for the cattle, but still they bore it well and we
traveled over the ground as well as we could expect. We had a fine cool breeze of wind to help us. The
grass was not so good as we have had it by far. We came to a steep creek of clear water and crossed the
stream in safety. We traveled about 16 miles and into camp at 6 o’clock. No wood, water good, feed
poor.

Saturday, July 19. This was a fine warm morning, and we left camp at 8 o’clock. We found the roads
very sandy, hilly and hard for the cattle to travel over. We had but little wind all day. We crossed one
creek all safe. We came to several sloughs and the cattle watered themselves. We saw first buffalo
tracks. We came to a place for camping a 6 o’clock. We traveled about 16 miles. Ourselves and cattle
was much fatigued by the journey. No wood, not much water, and that poor, feed very thin.

Sunday, July 20. We had a man die last night. He was in Captain Henderson’s ten. His age was about
47 years. This was a very fine morning and we left camp at 9 o’clock. We traveled today because there
is no wood ant the water is bad and but little feed for the cattle. We found the roads as yesterday, very
hilly and sandy, and hard work for the cattle. We crossed a small river called the Loup Fork, the water
clear and good, about 2 feet deep and a good sandy bottom. We got all the teams over safe and came
into camp about 5 o’clock. We came about 12 miles today. The country looks a desert. All around deer
was seen and hunted today but none taken. No wood and feed thin for cattle.

Monday, July 21. This was a fine morning and we left camp at 9 o’clock. We found the roads worse
than yesterday, very hilly and the sand deep, which made it very hard upon hte cattle. The country all
around looks a desert. We came into camp at half-past 4 o’clock. The cattle was much fatigues as well
as the drivers. No wood, no water, and feed poor. We came about 12 miles today. Benjamin Allen was
baptized last night by Captain Hammon and confirmed this morning by my father.

Tuesday, July 22. This was a dark dull morning and we left camp before 5 o’clock to see if we could
get feed and water for our cattle. We traveled about 7 miles over very steep hilss and deep hollows, so
much so that we had to lock both wheels. We came to a place to camp about half-past 9 o’clock. We
found wood, feed poor, and water bad. We stopped about 4 hours. Some of the camp went out to hunt
buffalo and shot at one but did not get it. They learned if we traveled some 4 miles and came to a good
camping place and wood, water, feed. We are now at the River Loup Fork. We find the roads as in the
morning, very steep, hilly and dangerous to travel without much care. Sister Maddison had an axle-tree
broke today and her wagon was left about one mile form camp, but Captain Hammon and others have
gone to make good the repairs. We found the company of Captain Easton at this camping place. They
have lost some of their horses and I still believe they will not do well by the step they have taken. We
had a thunder storm this afternoon. Bro. Allen shot a very large wolf this morning.

Wednesday, July 23. This is a very fine morning and the camp stopped till noon to wash, etc. We left
camp about 12 o’clock to cross the Loup Fork River, which we did in less than two hours by doubling
our teams. We all crossed in safety. We found the roads on the other side very good but we had some
steep hills and hollows to pass over. We saw buffalo and some of the camp went out to hunt but did not
succeed in taking any. We came to a good camping place about 6 o’clock and good would about half
mile distant. We came abo9ut 8 miles today. Captain Easton followed our company and passed our
camp. Captain Cordon called a meeting this morning and gave instructions how to cross the river and
also some good teaching to the company which we was glad to hear. We have not seen an Indian at
present.

Thursday, July 24. This is a fine morning and we left camp at 8 o’clock. We found the roads as
yesterday. They was very good but very hilly, and the day turned out to be very hot I believe this has
been the hottest day we have had, and it tried our cattle very much. One ox died in the road and others
was very much weary. Two wagons wsa turned over. Brother Fisher had the tongue of his wagon
broken. We came to part of camp in Aldredge’s company. They had lost 28 head of cattle and could not
go on. We are at one part of the Loup Fork. Water good, plenty of wood and feed for cattle. We came
today about 17 miles and all was glad to get rest.

Friday, July 25. This is a fine morning and we left camp at 9 o’clock to cross this branch of the Fork
River. We got all our wagons over safe in about two hours and went on about 2 miles to camp to get
wagons repaired that was broken down yesterday, and so rest our cattle, wood and water plenty.

Saturday, July 26. This was a very fine morning and we left camp about 7 o’clock. WE found the roads
good, the day hot. We had to cross 2 creeks and a slough. At the first creek or slough we found very
steep down to and Bro. W. Booth and his wagon turn over into the water. His wife, his father and his
wife was in the wagon but hey was got out without being hurt. The wagon was unloaded and most of
this got wet but the wagon was not broken which we was thankful for. Bro. Booth returned his sincere
thanks to those that was so kind as to help him in the hour of trouble. We got into camp at 5 o’clock.
Feed scarce but good, water poor, no wood. We came about 14 miles today. Buffalo seen, also deer, but
none taken.

Sunday, July 27. This was a very fine morning and we left camp at 7 o’clock. We found the roads good
but very hilly. The day turned very hot but the cattle got on well. The tire of Bro. Steward’s wheel
broke today but mended the best way we could till we got into camp. We crossed one creek and two
sloughs and came into camp about 3 o’clock. Good water, feed thin, was wood about one mile off. We
came about 10 miles today. We past a board left by Orson Hyde but I could not make out the date. The
distance from Kanesville was about 320 miles.

Monday, July 28. This was a fine cool morning and we left camp at 7 o’clock. We found the roads was
about as yesterday, good roads but the hills very steep. Some we might call mountains, but we got over
them all safe. We past a grave of a woman that had been killed by a stampede taking place and the
wagon being turned over. We crossed two sloughs safe. WE had water for the cattle on the way. The
country in many places was very barren. Buffalo was seen but none taken. Some went out to hunt. Two
got lost and did not get into camp until we sent men o hunt them. One was found about ten o’clock, the
other was not found till two o’clock in the morning. We came into camp about 7 o’clock, no water, no
wood, feed poor. We came about 20 miles today and we was all much fatigued.

Tuesday, July 29. This was a fine morning and we left camp about half past 5 o’clock because we had
no feed or water. We came to water after traveling 5 or 6 miles. It was only fit for the cattle. We past
one and came to a camping place, good water, wood and feed here. Found the camp of Captain Phelps
all well, also the camp of Captain Aldredge. They have lost some 50 head of cattle and could not find
them. Captain Phelps left this morning; the other have stopped to hunt their cattle. We came about 8
miles today. Captain Cordon had the tongue of his wagon broken this morning.

Wednesday, July 30. This was a fine morning. We stayed in camp all day so the company of Captain
Phelps might get on the way. Captain Cordon called a meeting last night and gave some good
instruction to the camp. The cattle had a good rest. We had a good cold spring. Captain Aldredge’s
camp killed a buffalo and sent to Bro. Booth to fetch some. It was good and we felt refreshed that had a
little. A child was born today and the mother is doing well.

Thursday, July 31. This was a fine morning and we left camp at 5 o’clock. We found the road rough.
We came in sight of some 2500 to 3500 buffalo. They was not far from our wagons but did not come
near. Some went out to kill one if they could but did not succeed. We crossed a creek. I do not know
the name of it. We also went over a bad slough all safe. We camped at 10 o’clock to feed our cattle.
The feed was poor, no water, plenty of wood. We came about 9 miles this morning. We past a guide
post stating it was 386 miles form Winter Quarters. Elder _________ past on the 16th of July. Captain
Aldredge have succeeded in finding their cattle and moved out today. Some went out from our camp
and killed 2 buffalo this morning and one the evening. Our company was delayed some while the men
eagerly went out to fetch in the meat which was good and tender. We started out of camp at 5 o’clock.
We had for 5 miles the worst roads we have traveled since we left Kanesville over steep hills and deep
hollows, so much so that it was very dangerous for wagons and cattle. Captain Cordon’s wagon got
broken, all the rest was safe but could not all get into camp as it came on dark with a thunder storm. We
had plenty of wood and water for our cattle. We came in all about 14 miles today.

Friday, August 1. This is a fine morning and we did not leave camp till near ten o’clock on account of
Captain Cordon’s wagon being repaired. We found the road somewhat bad this morning but not so bad
as yesterday. In the afternoon we came to good prairie land and we found it good for our cattle as well
as ourselves. We saw many buffalo today near the roads as we past, indeed they are very numerous.
We camped at 5 o’clock, feed very poor, no wood, a slough of poor water. We came about 13 miles
today.

Saturday, August 2. This was a fine morning and we left camp at 5 o’clock. WE found the road good
today and our cattle traveled well today, there being a fine cool wind and no sun. We saw several
thousands of buffalo today and some very near the wagons. There was a meeting called last night of
our ten concerning Captain Hammon and Bro. Gallop. Captain Cordon was present and it was but a
small charge and amount to nothing but about children and was settled by Captain Cordon. We came
into camp at half past 3 o’clock, good feed, plenty of wood, a creek with a little water in it and that
good. We came about 14 miles today. We have come to the old road but do not know the name of the
place.

Sunday, August 3. This is a fine morning and we stop in camp all day to feed our cattle. Some went out
to see if they could tell where we was but was not able to discern the place. Captain Cordon called a
meeting and addressed the same at some length upon various things. It went off well. In the evening a
meeting of the first ten was, when it was found that Captain Henderson did not do his duty as a captain,
and he was removed, and Bro. Lowe appointed captain in his place.

Monday, August 4. This was a fine morning and we left camp at 8 o’clock. We found the roads good
but a little swampy. Our cattle traveled well today. We stopped at noon and found the Bro. Booth’s
axeltree was broken but when asked how it was done he could not tell. They stopped and soon put in a
new one for which he returns his sincere thanks to Captain Hammon and others. We came to a good
camping place for feed and water for our cattle, wood about one mile distant. I believe this is Sandy
Bluffs. We came about 20 miles today.

Tuesday, August 5. This was a very fine morning and we left camp about half past 7 o’clock. We found
the roads good to travel over and our cattle went on first rate. We saw a great number of buffalo. We
have men out hunting them. According to a guide left, Captain Brown company past on the 2nd inst.
J.D. Watt was with them. They was all well, and still they are traveling at the rate of 25 miles a day. No
stampede since they left the Loup Fork. Sister Maddison’s wagon broke down today by the axeltree
broken, but was repaired by Captain Hammon and we rolled on to camp near the Platte. Wood, water
and feed all good. We came about 20 miles today.

Wednesday, August 6. This was a fine morning and we left camp at 8 o’clock. The roads good but did
not go for it was found that mother was so ill that she could not travel. She was delivered of a stillborn
male child, which was buried on the way. A wagon of the first ten broke down this morning and we all
camped. We came about 6 miles, good feed and wood for camping purposes.

Thursday, August 7. This is a very fine morning and we was about to leave camp before 7 o’clock but
new came that a buffalo was killed and we had to stop to have it cut up and take with us. We left camp
about 8 o’clock. We found the roads good till we came to the Sandy Bluffs, then we found it hard to get
through. We had a boy run over by his falling out of a wagon in the first ten. He was hurt much. We
met a number of men returning from the gold mines and Salt Lake. These are the first persons we have
met with on the road since we started. They was well armed and had a number of horses and mules. We
camped a Sandy Bluff Creek. We got into camp about 8 o’clock. We traveled 22 ½ miles today. We
saw many buffalo a short distance from the road.

Friday, August 8. This was a very fine cold morning and we left camp at 8 o’clock. We found the roads
very sandy and hard upon the cattle in the morning in the morning, but after 3 o’clock we got into good
roads and all went on. We saw a few buffalo today. We camped at Rattlesnake Creek, a good place for
feed and water, no wood. We came 20 1/4 miles. We got into camp at half past 5 o’clock. Captain
Cordon called a special prayer meeting on account Father Booth’s wife, who is sick nigh unto death.
They afterwards administered unto her in the name of the Lord.
Saturday, August 9. This was a fine morning and we left camp at 8 o’clock. Found the roads good till
we got to the sand hills and they was bad under, but all got over safe and came to a good place to camp
at the foot of the Sandy Bluff. Plenty of feed and the river at hand, no wood. Our oxen have done well
this week. We have traveled today 17 3/4 miles.

Sunday, August 10. This was a fine morning and we left camp at 8 o’clock. The sun was hot upon us.
The roads was good and our teams did well the distance we came. We came to Ash Hollow and
camped for the day. We got into camp about one o’clock. WE came 10 3/4 miles today. A government
company of 10 wagons for the states camped on the other side of the river. Some of the company
crossed the river to get some ash to make axeltrees but only 2 was got. Plenty of wild cherries and
currants was found in Ash Hollow.

Monday, August 11. This was a very fine morning. Before we left camp a widow whose husband died
some three weeks back returned with the train of wagons that was going to the states. A sister give birth
to a daughter last night in camp. They are doing well. We found the roads good today. The sun was hot
upon us and it was hard in some of the sandy places for our cattle. We left camp this morning at 8
o’clock and we came into camp at 5 o’clock. We traveled about 17 miles. Plenty of water and feed, no
wood.

Tuesday, August 12. A dull morning but turned out a fine day and our cattle traveled well over the
sands. The roads good in any places. The land looks barren and not much feed. We came to a good
place to camp and we traveled about 20 ½ miles today. We left camp at 8 o’clock this morning and we
camped at the Cobles Hills. A company of men from Oregon came to camp tonight. They said that
Captain Coming was not ahead of us as they wanted to see him.

Wednesday, August 13. This was a damp morning but turned out a fine day and we left camp at 8
o’clock. Found the roads very heavy to travel as it was soft sand all the day or near so. We stopped
about 10 o’clock to wait for the 2nd ten to come up as they had stopped in camp on account of a sister
being in labor and was confined, and the company came on and we started on the road. This day we
past the ancient ruins and wonderful indeed they look, but we had but little time to view the wonders of
nature. We came to a good camping place about half past 5 o’clock. We traveled about 14 miles today,
all safe and well. No Indians seen at present.

Thursday, August 14. A meeting was called last night by Captain Cordon to answer some questions as
he had been asked him about dividing the company of tens. He said no such thought had entered his
mind and he should not divide without he saw it wisdom to do so, with many other things he said. We
had a very heavy thunder storm about 1 o’clock this morning. We never heard it so bad before but we
found al our cattle and wagons safe this morning and we left camp about 8 o’clock. We found the roads
somewhat soft but our cattle did well today for they traveled about 21 miles. We camped near the
Chimney Rock about one mile from the river. The view about the river on the south side is grand. Feed
thin but good.

Friday, August 15. This was a very warm morning. We left camp about 8 o’clock. WE found the roads
very good today and our cattle did well although the day was hot. We saw a camp of wagons on the
south side of the river. We have not heard where they are for at present. The scenery on the sought of
the river is grand. We camped near Scott’s Bluff. We came about 18 miles today. We found good feed
and water.
Saturday, August 16. This was a fine morning and we left camp at half past 7 o’clock. Found the roads
good but the day turned out very hot. Two Indians came up to our train on horseback. They was fine
looking men and the first we have seen since we have been out. We camped near the river, good feed.
We came about 17 miles today, making 117 1/4 miles this week.

Sunday, August 17. This was a fine day and we stayed in camp all day as there was good feed and we
can rest, which we needed after 13 days hard traveling. Captain Cordon called a meeting in the
afternoon. Some of the officers spoke. After that Captain Cordon preached unto us a noble discourse
upon the destiny of man and the design God had in making him happy. We was all pleased with what
we heard and long to live to realize the things he spoke upon. Father Booth’s wife has taken much
worse today and we fear her time is but short.

Monday, August 18. This is a fine morning and we left camp about 8 o’clock. We found the roads good
and our teams did well the time they traveled but Father Booth’s wife continued to get worse and died
about 3 o’clock p.m. Captain Cordon ordered the train into camp and sister was kind to get the body
ready for the grave. Her age was 32. Captain Cordon offered some good remarks to comfort Father
Boothand he offered up prayer and the body was put into the ground about 6 o’clock. We traveled
about 12 miles today. Feed and water poor, some wood. Some Indians came into camp this evening.

Tuesday, August 19. This was a fine morning and we left camp at 7 o’clock. We found the roads very
sandy in many places and hard upon our teams. The day turned out very hot which made it worse for
our cattle, but we did well upon the whole. We came about 20 miles and camped near the river, plenty
of wood but little feed for our cattle. Many Indians came to the camp and had a feast with Captain
Cordon. They was very friendly.

Wednesday, August 20. This was a very fine morning and we left camp soon after 7 that we might be
away before the Indians came as some of the cattle was afrighted at them and for the first time our
cattle took to a stampede about 2 o’clock this morning and again at half past 3 o’clock, but we found
them all safe as they did not go many rods from the wagons. We found the roads very sandy and the
wind high which made it unpleasant to travel. We got to Fort Laramie about 11 o’clock and stopped
over 2 hours. There was many Indians at and near the Fort. All was friendly. The Platte was bad to
cross, there being so many stones at the bottom but all got over safe. Some of our cattle did not like the
Indians. We found the roads from the Fort sandy and in some places bad. We camped about 4 o’clock,
very little feed, water very muddy. We came about 14 miles today.

Thursday, August 21. This wa a fine morning and we left camp a little after 8 o’clock. The first part of
the road was very sandy; after that the roads was god but we had some very steep hills to go up and
down which was dangerous to our wagons, but all got on well. The day was hot. We came into camp
about half past 5 o’clock. We saw some government teams on the road; no Indians from the time we
left camp. We came 15 miles today. Captain Cordon’s brother is very sick. We have poor feed, good
water, and plenty of wood.

Friday, August 22. This was a fine morning and we left camp at half past 7 o’clock. We found the
roads good in some places but very bad in others. We had some long hills to get up and some very
steep and dangerous ones to go down but all came safe over. The day was very hot and it tried our
cattle and wagons. We came to a good camping place about half past 3 o’clock and we stopped. It was
found that most of the wheel tires wanted resettings so that the smiths had to be set to work. Some men
on horses passed us. They came from Oregon and the valley. We came about 15 miles today. We found
good water and wood and feed for the cattle.
Saturday, August 23. This was a find day and we stopped in camp all day to get the wagons repaired, to
feed and rest our cattle as they much needed it for their work has been hard and feed poor all this week.
Bro. Steward’s daughter fell out of the wagon yesterday while traveling and was slightly hurt. The
smiths was hard at work today.

Sunday, August 24. We are still in camp as the repairs could not be all done yesterday. There was a
heavy thunder storm in the afternoon. We did not have a meeting. Our cattle done well for feed.

Monday, August 25. We left camp this morning about half past 7 o’clock and found the roads hard and
good. We had some very steep hills to cross but we got over all safe and came into camp at 5 o’clock.
Little water and very poor feed. We came 20 miles today.

Tuesday, August 26. We left camp this morning at 8 o’clock. The roads was good but we had some
very steep hills to cross that it was very dangerous for our cattle and wagons. Four draft chains was
broken off . Sister Maddison’s couple was broken but we was not detained long. Bro. Steward had a ox
die yesterday morning which was a great loss to him. Bro. Fisher had one take sick but we hope it will
be better. We came over a number of dark red sand hills today. The land all the way look very barren.
We came about 18 miles today and camped before 5 o’clock. No wood, very poor feed, a cold spring.

Wednesday, August 27. We left camp this morning soon after 5 o’clock as there was not grass at the
small creek where we camped.

1Pennsylvania Dutch is a corruption of the word Deutsch which means German which was the
language spoken by these people.